Day 28: CONTENT (My Heart’s Contents Control My Contentment)
My language-loving brain has been playing around with today’s word.
I realized that “to my heart’s content” could have two very different meanings depending on how I pronounce “content.”
So I looked up both pronunciations:
1) con·tent [KON-tent]
noun
Usually plural: contents. Something that is contained: the contents of a box.
Early meaning: held within
2) con·tent [kuhn-TENT]
adjective
satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
Early meaning: restrained desires
Then I pondered today’s verse:
I know what it is to be in needand I know what it is to have plenty.I have learned the secret of being contentin any and every situation,whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want.Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
Clearly, my outer circumstances do not have to dictate my contentment.
They will when I allow them to!
But when the correct contents are held within my heart, then I will be content, with all unhealthy desires restrained.
And what are the correct contents?
An old favorite song from when my children were far younger came to mind:
I have the love of Jesus,
love of Jesus
down in my heart.
(Where?)
Down in my heart!
(Where?)
Down in my heart!
I have the love of Jesus,
love of Jesus,
down in my heart.
(Where?)
Down in my heart to stay!
And I’m so happy,
so very happy!
I’ve got the love of Jesus
in my heart!
(Down in my heart)
And I’m so happy,
so very happy!
I’ve got the love of Jesus
in my heart!
Jesus in my Heart
Perhaps this sounds sounds simplistic.
But I believe it is this simple:
I am content when Jesus is my heart’s sole content. (Click to Tweet this.)
No, it’s not easy…at least not for me.
Not yet.
For decades, I’ve allowed my external circumstances to dictate my thoughts, my beliefs, my moods, my words, my actions, my reactions.
And the havoc this has wreaked — in my life and my marriage and my relationship with my children and my friendships — makes “restrained desires” sound like sweet sweet music to my tired ears.
When Jesus is the Content of Our Hearts
When Jesus is the content of my Sanguine heart, I will be content with the joy He brings in the present moment, with no need to keep seeking or creating more “fun”.
When Jesus is the content of my Melancholy heart, I will be content in His perfection, without needing to strive to prove my own.
When Jesus is the content of my Choleric heart, I will be content with His control of my life, with no need to keep trying to get it back.
When Jesus is the content of my Phlegmatic heart, I will be content with His peace that passes all understanding, without needing to play relational peace-faker.
When Jesus is my heart’s content, I can say, “My heart’s content!” (Click to Tweet This.)
In any and every circumstance.
Your Turn:
- What does “content” mean to you?
- What helps you make Jesus your heart’s content?
- Anything else on your heart!
Start Your Holiday Ready Heart Journey Here:
- How It Works (via Bullet Points & Videos!)
- Day 1: LOVED (+ 2 Vital Questions to Ask NOW)
- Day 2: CHOSEN – Making Right Holiday Choices
- Day 3: COMPLETE (+ 5 Gift-Giving Questions)
- Day 4: PURE (+ Goodbye, Ghosts of Christmas Past)
- Day 5: RIGHTEOUS (+ Rituals vs. Relationships)
- Day 6: FORGIVEN (+ The Story I Choose to Tell)
- Day 7: FREE (+ 14+ Ways to Enjoy “Free” Holy-Days!)
- Day 8: VICTORIOUS (+ Heading Off Holiday Hurts)
- Day 9: NEW (+ The Power to Get or to Give?)
- Day 10: CONFIDENT (+ 10 Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas)
- Day 11: MASTERPIECE (+ Being Content With What I DO Have)
- Day 12: INSEPARABLE (+ Missing Loved Ones at the Holidays)
- Day 13: DELIVERED (+ Why the Holidays Can Overwhelm)
- Day 14: TRUST (+ How Each PURSE-onality Can Get Day Overwhelmed)
- Day 15: PATIENT (+ Practicing Now for Patience Then)
- Day 16: NO RECORD (+ How to Have Grudge-Free Holidays)
- Day 17: TRUTH (Each PURSE-onality’s Take on Truth)
- Day 18: PERSEVERE (+2 Cures for Procrastination)
- Day 19: BLESS (Your Feelings Can Help You Choose)
- Day 20: BUILDING (20+ Ways to Build with Words)
- Day 21: HOLD (Hold Back, Let Go, and Step Up)
- Day 22: FRUIT (I Didn’t Think…I Was a People-Pleaser!)
- Day 23: CLEANSE (A Holiday-Ready Home)
- Day 24: REJOICE (We Share the Same Heart Rate)
- Day 25: NEAR (“Everything Else” or Emmanuel?)
- Day 26: THANKSGIVING (5 Ideas for Daily Thanks-Living)
- Day 27: GUARD (How Obedience Brings Peace)
This was a good one. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13. I hadn’t really put 4:12 and 4:13 together until recently when we were studying Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald when we were studying Contentment that week. I struggle off and on with contentment. For me, it has been financial. We have struggled a lot for the last 8 years and it is so hard at times. However, I know that God will take care of our needs. I have to remind myself of that often. I know He is faithful and that He loves me.
God Bless,
Kim in NC